Hysterectomy Specialist

Capital Women's Care

OB-GYNs located in Arlington, VA & McLean, VA

The decision to have a hysterectomy is a difficult one but necessary in some cases. The specialists at Capital Women’s Care in Arlington and McLean, Virginia have extensive training in this surgical procedure and can offer women alternatives to the old-school surgery that requires extensive recovery time. With the help of cutting-edge technology, hysterectomy patients spend less time in bed after the procedure is complete. If you need a second opinion about a hysterectomy, make an appointment at Capital Women’s Care to see one of the top specialists in the country.

Hysterectomy Q&A

What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. Doctors might recommend this procedure for several reasons, such as:

Uterine fibroids

Uterine prolapse

Cancer

Endometriosis

Abnormal bleeding

Chronic pain

Thickening of the uterus

Unless cancer is part of the diagnosis, specialists such as Dr. Cobbs and Dr. Shah look for nonsurgical solutions to these problems and only recommend a hysterectomy as a last resort.

There are also different forms of hysterectomy that allow patients to maintain some of their reproductive systems. For example, a supracervical hysterectomy removes only the upper portion of the uterus, leaving the cervix in place.

In some cases, the surgeon may opt to remove the uterus and cervix but leave the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Removal of the ovaries and tubes are technically separate procedures but done at the same time as the hysterectomy.

What is an open surgery hysterectomy?

It's a surgical procedure that involves a long incision to open the abdomen and access the uterus. It is the more traditional form of surgery, but it means several days in the hospital, a long recovery time, and a large scar.

The modern doctors at Capital Women’s Care will consider more cutting-edge procedures that use a small incision, so they involve less recovery time and scarring.

A laparoscopic hysterectomy requires just one or more small cuts in the belly. A trained surgeon such as Dr. Caskie inserts a lighted tube with a camera on the tip and small surgical tools into the abdominal cavity to remove the uterus.

A video camera provides a full view of the inside of the patient during the process. The laparoscopic procedure can be done through a small incision in the vagina, too.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomies use a sophisticated robotic system and a three-dimensional screen to complete the removal. With the robotic system, the surgeon uses natural wrist movements during the surgery.

What are the benefits of less invasive surgery?

The most obvious benefit is smaller incisions, meaning faster recovery and less pain. Laparoscopic surgeries reduce the risk of infection, too. Typically, a patient can expect a recovery period of between three to four weeks.

Open surgery means extensive scarring and pain plus a recovery time of up to six weeks. The open procedure is more costly, too, and requires days in the hospital.